QREC Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah with the connections of Constitution River.
Doha, Qatar: The QREC-sponsored Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, one of France’s premier Classic races for three-year-olds, was held at Chantilly yesterday.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah presented the trophies following the Gr.1 contest, also known as the French Derby, which attracted a high-class field and produced a memorable one-two-three for trainer Aidan O’Brien, headed by Constitution River (Wootton Bassett).
Constitution River confirmed his class with a determined success, becoming a Group 1 winner and taking his record to four wins from five career starts.
The race, run over 2100m, featured a strong field, and the talented colt officially earned his first Group 1 title after already showing high-class form at two and on his seasonal return.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, ridden by Ryan Moore, and carrying the colours of M. Tabor, D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier and Westerberg, Constitution River came into the race with a progressive profile. Second on debut, he had since developed into a highly reliable performer, winning a Maiden race & a Gr.2 over 1400m last year before making a successful return this season in a Listed race over 2100m at Chester, where he scored impressively by seven lengths. This time, he confirmed that promise on the biggest stage and became a Gr.1 winner.
He jumped well from the stalls and was briefly isolated on the outside before joining the main group, although he remained posted wide due to his difficult draw.
The race was led by his stable companion Montreal (Sea The Stars), who set a strong tempo. Constitution River soon made progress to sit in third, racing not far behind another stable companion, Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett), who tracked the leader in second.
Still travelling at a solid pace, Montreal had opened up a lead of around three lengths entering the final bend and began to stretch the field.
Constitution River was then asked to make his effort, with Ryan Moore beginning to niggle him along as the race developed.
Inside the final 400 metres, Constitution River joined his two stable companions and the finish briefly turned into a strong battle between the three Aidan O’Brien-trained runners. Hawk Mountain kept fighting, while Montreal continued to show plenty of courage in front, but inside the final 100 metres Constitution River asserted and found extra to win by three quarters of a length.
Hawk Mountain finished second, with Montreal taking third, giving Aidan O’Brien a remarkable 1-2-3 in the Classic.
Bred by S.A.R.L. LG Bloodstock, Constitution River is by Wootton Bassett out of Chuppy (Le Havre). Chuppy is a full sister to Wonderful Tonight (Le Havre), a dual Gr.1 winner over 2400m and 2800m at three, as well as a dual Gr.2 winner over 2400m and 2800m at four.
She is also a half-sister to Heartache Tonight (Recorder), a winner over 1800m at two and third in a Gr.3 over 2100m at three, and to Penjade (Air Chief Marshal), who was three times placed in Listed company between 1400m and 2000m at two.
